Book Review: Sheltering Mercy, by Ryan Whitaker Smith & Dan Wilt

It's rare for me to review a book before I've finished reading it,

but this is not a book to be rushed.

Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired By The Psalms

is something special, something unique.

I met Dan Wilt many years ago when he taught worship leading workshops at Break Forth in Edmonton. I was impressed by his leadership skills, but also by his true heart for ministry.

Sheltering Mercy is a collection of "prayerful responses" to the psalms. 

They're prayers that read like poetry.

Poetry that feel like psalms.

It's a bit hard to describe the experience of this book. It starts with the physical presentation - a solid hardcover book with a classic, tactile cover. Open the pages to discover gracefully laid out text, interspersed with woodcut-style images. 

Each of the 75 prayers was inspired by one of the first 75 psalms. They're numbered, and also have Scripture references, but don't expect new translations of each psalm. These are like improvisations, starting from a key verse, and branching out into new words, new cries, new praises. The writing is lyrical, with gorgeous turns of phrase and poetic images.

I've taken to reading a prayer a day, before I begin my own writing practice. I know some readers who are using it as their Lenten devotional. Others are reading the psalm from the Bible, followed by the prayer from the book. One reader said that, inspired by the artwork, she's using her pencil crayons to doodle, colour, and journal as she reads. 

However you enjoy Sheltering Mercy, it will be a blessing to your devotional life!

This beautiful video gives you the prayer inspired by Psalm 1, 

read by Dan Wilt, with music by Michael W. Smith. 

Enjoy...

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.